Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has finally done what he threatened to do for over two decades. Israel launched airstrikes deep within Iran on Friday, hitting nuclear facilities and killing senior military commanders.
The daring operation, known as Operation Rising Lion, is the most severe military confrontation between the two countries ever. After years of global indecision, Netanyahu decided to attack without the blessing of allies. He positioned the move as a historic stand to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
Netanyahu Turns Warnings Into Action
For years, Iran taunted Netanyahu for consistently warning the world concerning its nuclear plans. In 2018, former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated, “You can only fool some of the people so many times.”
PM Netanyahu, famous for employing props such as bomb cartoons at the UN, had been cautioning the world concerning Tehran’s plans for a long time. Now, those warnings have become real action.
Holocaust Reference to Justify the Strike
In his address to the nation, Netanyahu used the Holocaust. He criticized previous leaders for not moving in time against Hitler. He stated, “Never again is now today.” His intention, he asserted, was to stop another existential threat—this time from Iran.
Military experts previously thought Netanyahu had little space to maneuver. Iran’s surrogates such as Hezbollah and Hamas were too dangerous. But in 2023 and 2024 Israel defeated both in short, high-intensity campaigns. That emboldened Netanyahu to believe that Iran, now vulnerable, could be attacked openly.
Trump’s Abrupt Diplomacy Was the Last Straw
PM Netanyahu’s action came just as Donald Trump caught him off guard by announcing direct nuclear negotiations with Iran. Although the negotiations are to be resumed this weekend, the de facto deadline expired Thursday. Netanyahu moved quickly, perhaps feeling his last opportunity.
Netanyahu, who was once glorified as “King Bibi,” has a disintegrating domestic reputation. He’s standing trial for corruption. He’s even being probed by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Gaza. His opponents have accused him of extending the Gaza war to escape elections. But with this Iran strike, he is trying to cement his legacy.
Israel says it took out primary Russian-produced air defence systems in Iran and hit close to Natanz, a critical nuclear facility that is. It is reported that Israel contacted Washington quietly beforehand. Netanyahu’s and Trump’s public drama might have served as a decoy to deceive Tehran.
A Legacy in the Balance
At 75, PM Netanyahu is out of time. His popularity at home is fading, but he is confident that history will exonerate him. “Generations from now, history will record that our generation acted in time,” he declared.
Whether this aggressive push brings peace or further war remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Netanyahu has finally done what he always said he would—he took action.
